[MFBrown]

Congratulations Lynwood.....! The time it took NHRA to getting around to it does not reflect your meaning to the sport.

Those that worked with you, David, Peanut, Val and Wayne, Jerry, Cary, Charlie, Joey, Buggy, Craig, AJ, my dad Jim, and myself, to only name a few, learned what it meant to put the racer first. Each and every person you lead had the upmost respect for your leadership decisions. While working for you at the Cajun Nationals, my first encounter with an irate racer was in the rear of the staging lanes at State Capitol in Baton Rouge. This guy had a 30' tow rope and continued to block a second lane in the turn causing backups with other classes. It was about to get ugly and Lynwood stepped in and said very softly, "I can put you on the highway faster than another car, so all you need to do is pull a little slack out of your rope and everyone will be happy". Guy turns around and starts pulling on the rope. Lynwood told me right after that, to remember the decision you make regarding a racer could affect the outcome of his weekend, so make sure you think it through before reacting.

On a local level, the team of you, Val Pitre, Jerry Dieck, Cary Menard, and Charlie Simoneaux were such a great group of race officials. It took a group like that to run races when weekly legal class racing was still popular. A short story on some of that group. They were headed to Amarillo with a young Cary at the wheel. An accident caused a stop on the interstate so everyone takes a nap. Eventually all wake up except Cary at the wheel, to cars passing by in the right lane at 60 mph.

The stories could go on from your days racing, then realizing you knew the more profitable side, promoting and directing races. You made State Capitol Dragway profitable for Norman "Moose" Pearah through you organizational skills that I would put up against anyone, anywhere.

Any racing organization you worked for has benefited (and continues to benefit) from your years of experience. Where do you normally find a race director? In the tower enjoying a little ac. Not you! Who else can call a race from the staging lanes. Many a race has been completed and saved by that skill.

Unfortunately, I can't make it to the Hot Rod Reunion to show the respect you deserve. So this will have to do for now. You can expect that yearly call a little sooner this year to see how it all went. I know your family is proud of you!

Congrats again.....!
Mark